New Car/Review

Mazda MPV Minivan (2000)

by Carey Russ

The original Mazda MPV minivan was an unusual entry in a
class that celebrates conformity. Minivans, almost by definition, are
medium-sized front-wheel drive vehicles. The MPV was a slightly
larger rear-wheel drive machine that was more like a smaller version of
a full-sized van than a typical minivan. Other minivans had second-
row sliding doors; all of the MPV's doors were hinged. All-wheel drive
versions of the MPV, culminating in the SUV-look "All-Sport", gave
it some niche-market success, but only in a small niche.

As has happened with other makers of once-unusual minivans,
the design philosophy behind the second generation of the MPV is "if
you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- and do it better." It's a contemporary
front-wheel drive design with dual sliding doors and just about every
other feature of mainstream minivandom -- and some unique twists of
its own. Three trim levels -- value-leader DX, mid-level LX, and
premium ES -- are offered. Equipment levels are high, even on the
DX. All share a 2.5-liter V6 engine and four-speed automatic
transmission.

I had a change to sample all varieties at the press introduction
in Southern California last summer, and recently spent a week with a
2000 MPV LX at home. The new MPV has many useful features, and
is a very convenient size. As some minivans become less mini, they
become more annoying to park and maneuver in tight spaces. No
problem there with the new "right-sized" MPV, it has plenty of room
inside. Mazda would like to expand its presence in the minivan field,
and the new MPV should do well.

APPEARANCE: The old MPV was a utilitarian vehicle with strictly
form-follows-function styling until the body-cladding of the faux-SUV
All-Sport debuted. The new MPV has contemporary style. Although it
is a two-box minivan at heart, careful sculpting and creasing gives it a
dynamic character. "Contrast in Harmony" is Mazda's term, and there
is even a "ground effects" styling package with a more-aggressive front
air dam and side skirts. The chrome-trimmed, five-sided grille is
Mazda's new look for the new century. Mazda's stylists have done a
great job of hiding the door tracks. Obvious styling blemishes on the
flanks of some competitors, they are neatly hidden below the quarter
windows.

COMFORT: If the new MPV is smaller than some competitors
outside, it doesn't show much inside. Application of Mazda's
"OptiSpace" design philosophy, and careful attention to details, has
resulted in an interior that makes the best use of available space. It will
hold six or seven in comfort, and access is easy thanks to the dual
sliding doors. In contrast to the bench or captain's chairs in other
minivans, the second row "Side-by-Slide" seats in LX and ES levels
can be moved fore-and-aft and the right seat moves side-to-side to give
either configuration when needed, and make access to the third-row
seat easy. They, and the DX's standard bench, are easily removable.
And the third row seat not only folds flat into the floor, it can be
reversed to make the MPV a very comfy vehicle for a picnic or tailgate
party. Cupholders and storage spaces abound, as expected in a
minivan. Unusually, the sliding-door windows can be lowered. Why,
in an air-conditioned vehicle? Every try to get all of the hot air inside
of a minivan out quickly? No problem in the MPV. Back up front,
comfortable bucket seats and a well-designed instrument panel with
plenty of convenient storage spaces can be found. Rear air
conditioning is optional on the LX and standard in the ES. My test
MPV was so equipped and it worked well and very quickly. The new
MPV is comfortable and convenient.

SAFETY: All new MPV models have dual front airbags and use the
latest safety belt technology. Front seat side airbags are standard on ES
models and available on LXes. Antilock brakes are standard on the LX
and ES.

ROADABILITY: ROADABILITY: The new MPV's smaller size helps give it good
maneuverability on the road and in parking lots. Large minivans can
feel cumbersome on narrow, twisting roads. But the MPV feels solid
and well-controlled on any sort of road. It is a relatively tall vehicle,
with a soft, comfortable suspension tuning, so it's no Miata. But a
Miata doesn't hold seven people!

PERFORMANCE: Although the Mazda 626 has a 2.5-liter V6, that is
not the 2.5-liter V6 in the MPV. The MPV has the "Duratec" engine
also found in the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique and Cougar.
Mazda is now part of the Ford empire, and so has access to the Ford
parts bin. The MPV is lighter than most other minivans, and so the 170
horsepower (160 in low-emissions trim) Duratec works well. Its
extreme low-rpm power could be better -- its small size shows there --
but its midrange and top-end power are especially good. The four-
speed automatic transmission works well in most situations, only
hunting for gears on very steep grades. Acceleration into fast highway
traffic is not a problem.

CONCLUSIONS: The 2000 Mazda MPV is an interesting new entry in
the minivan class.

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